By imitating the format of an altar triptych, which usually depict the life of Christ or the saints, the painting is meant to enshrine poetry and poets--particularly English poetry and poets--as important as religious figures. In this respect, it is typical of the works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, though Brown was not one of the Brotherhood, but a mentor.

The painting can be seen at:
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~silvana/preraph/seeds.html